Town Talk

Town Talk

IF YOU LOVE animals, you'll love the Wally's Friends fundraiser "Spay-Ghettie No Meatballs Dinner and Silent Auction" on Feb. 28 at Warehouse Row.

The annual event celebrates National Spay Day that promotes overcoming pet overpopulation by spaying and neutering animals.

Wally's Friends executive director Eileen Price said the event is a fun-filled night for animal lovers.

"We cannot adopt or shelter our way out of the pet overpopulation epidemic," Price said, noting her organization's commitment to spaying and neutering animals.

Since opening in November 2006, Wally's Friends has provided more than 54,000 surgeries on animals.

"Affordable spaying and neutering is the solution to the National epidemic of pet overpopulation and brings a higher quality of life to the community," she said. "The simple surgery of spay and neuter prevents thousands of lives from being born into an economy where there are not enough homes."

Wally's Friends is a partner of Petsmart Charities and Petco Foundation.

National Spay Day is an annual campaign that shines a spotlight on spay/neuter, a proven way to save the lives of companion animals, feral cats and street dogs that might otherwise be put down in a shelter or killed on the street, Price said.

"Veterinarians at Wally's Friends are Dr. Adam B. Winn and Dr. April Koich. They are well trained in pediatric surgery and together perform an average of 50-60 surgeries per day," Price said.

National Spay Day was founded in 1995 by actress/singer Doris Day.

Tickets for the fundraiser are $25 and available for purchase at wallysfriends.com, Bone Apetit, The Ark, Cat Clinic of Chattanooga or by calling 877-9966.

HEARD ON THE TOWN

CHATTANOOGA ARTIST Janice Wilkey was honored during a reception at In-Town Gallery marking the exhibition of her new collection of oil paintings, "Conversations." The paintings offer glimpses of casual groupings of the artist's friends and family.

"She enjoys plein-air painting of local scenery, but portraiture is her specialty," said gallery spokeswoman Helen Burton. "This multi-talented artist also is a muralist."

Wilkey's exhibit will be displayed at In-Town Gallery through February.